Cosy Nth Norfolk cottage - sleeps 4 & dog friendly

Little Birch Cottage is a traditional red brick & flint, farm workers cottage, recently renovated throughout, retaining its character but with extra comfort & style. The location of the cottage is the perfect base for anyone wanting to explore North Norfolk, and with their fur friends - we welcome up to 2 small well behaved dogs. We are situated within 30mins from the popular coastal towns of Wells, Holkham & Brancaster. Fakenham, Thursford & Holt are within 20 minutes from the cottage. The space Along the road that winds through the heart of the village of Great Ryburgh, sits 'Little Birch Cottage'. Built mid 1800’s, the original cottage was divided into 3, offering accommodation to the local farm workers and their families. The date is unknown when the 3 cottages then became 2, but in the late 90’s the then owners, of Birch Tree Cottage, bought the smaller cottage next door - now known as ‘Little Birch Cottage’. In the Summer of 2024, we relocated to North Norfolk and purchased this traditional cottage and set about renovating ‘Little Birch’, our goal to offer the chance for guests to experience ‘slowing down’ for a while in North Norfolk – and where after walking, cycling, visiting local towns, strolling around the many artisan shops, bird watching, miles of sandy beaches, quaint coffee shops & country pubs – you can relax in the cottage, in front of the log burner, or soak up the summer sun in the enclosed rear garden. On entering the cottage through the gate from the top of the cottage's own drive, you find the entrance area, coat & dog lead hooks fixed on the traditional flint wall behind the front door – the flint wall was originally the rear outside wall of the cottage. During renovations this new room was sympathetically added to the cottage – making space for an inviting breakfast table or low lit evening dining, whilst the large windows allow for the morning sun to beam in – and in the late afternoon, the sun greets you as you return back to your home from home. Welcome baskets on the table are for you and your dog, please help yourself to their contents and enjoy whilst staying here, or take home. The ‘blackbird egg' blue cupboard, houses wine glasses and other items for your use when eating meals in this delightful space. Through the opening you enter the kitchen. Here you have a Nespresso coffee machine, kettle, toaster and on request, an Airfryer. An induction hob, fan assisted electric oven, microwave, fridge & small freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. From the kitchen tap runs 'Water2' filtered water – Norfolk water is very hard, and has an acquired taste! So for your comfort, we offer you filtered water on tap! The cupboards are stocked with cooking equipment and available to you are basic cooking oils, herbs and spices – Norfolk tea bags - milk for your first cuppa will be in the fridge as well as eggs laid by my own chickens! More eggs can be purchased during your stay at a very competitive price! Through the old wooden latched door is the lounge – relax here in front of the log burner – using the kindling and basket of logs, which are complimentary. Further wood supplies can be purchased from us at a very reasonable rate should you need to restock. For your entertainment is a smart TV offering Netflix, iplayer, Prime etc using your own logins. We offer free Wi-Fi throughout the cottage served by Starlink – Norfolk is renowned for not having great Internet speeds, but here you benefit from the satellites! Board games, playing cards, colouring books, reading books and Norfolk magazines are also available for your use while staying at Little Birch. These can be found in the cupboard under the TV and on the bookshelf to the right of the fireplace. There is space for your dog beds in this room, our preferred space for them please! We understand keeping dogs off the sofa when they may be used to this comfort is tricky, so please use a dog blanket (provided) if they need to be with you on the sofa. Up the traditional winding stairs that you’ll find easier to walk on nearest the wall – the steps are wider here, and more so on the way back down – please use the handrails provided for your own safety. Top and bottom of the stairs are pull out stair gates – these need not only be used for the safety of young children to prevent falling but to aid in keeping dogs from going upstairs, again our preference while at Little Birch. At the top of the stairs, turn immediately right, watching your head here as the threshold is 5’4 – the exposed beam which runs the length of this cosy double room is also low until the pitch of the roof rises – please mind your head coming in and out of this room, especially at night when using the bathroom. The low window in this room looks out onto the rear garden, and here the Silver Birch Tree, that gives the cottages their names can be seen. The traditionally weaved willow fence slithers down the garden, to offer privacy and security for your dogs. The comfortable bed will be very welcoming after a day exploring the beautiful North Norfolk countryside – pillows to suit, choose from feather or non-feather fillings. If you stay awake long enough to read a chapter or two, charming reading lights help you along. Turn left at the top of the stairs, and you reach the stylish bathroom – renovated to offer you the traditional character, but practical for your comfort – a rainfall power shower over a bathtub. Please ensure you can access this before deciding on your booking. Provided is a non-slip bath mat for your safety. The second bedroom is situated next to the bathroom, and here remains the old fireplace that would have been used to heat the bedroom before the introduction of radiators, of which there is one in each bedroom. The single beds are comfortable for adults, again reading lights over each bed to assist. Should younger children be occupying this room, we offer bed guards, and for the youngest member of the family, this room has space for a travel cot. Please let us know at the time of booking if you require these items. We offer the shelves within the boiler cupboard (the door on the left of the landing) to store unpacked cases & bags, leaving you maximum space in the bedrooms for clothes and personal effects. The window in the twin room opens wide to comply with fire regulations – these can be locked for safety when the room is to be occupied by young children. If you prefer the windows to be left unlocked, then please ensure young children are supervised at all times when they are occupying this room. Please consider the suitability of this old cottage when booking – • The steep winding staircase, which is traditional in this type of Norfolk farm cottage. • The low beam and doorframe of the double room. (5'4 approx) • The garden has a few steps to change from the gravel area to the grass. • The shower is over the bathtub, which requires being able to climb over the bath side to access. Practicality over keeping the character of the cottage was always present in our minds when renovating, but hopefully you will enjoy the experience of staying here and sampling what it was like over a century ago to live in a cosy cottage, bumpy walls and all! By booking a stay at Little Birch, you acknowledge the 4 points listed above, and we hold no responsibility for issues you may have – signs show where the low beam is (there is only one under 6ft in the whole of the cottage) The whole of the cottage is non smoking - the use of candles is also prohibited - faux candles are situated in several of the rooms for your use. The garden - we have tastefully installed a traditional willow weaved fence with gates, these are very popular around Norfolk - we hope you enjoy this as much as a fence can be enjoyed! Please discourage your dogs from chewing any ends of the willow that they may take a liking to. The areas outside of the gates and that of the black picket fence next to the vegetable plot are private. I do own a handful of chickens, which are out of sight from the garden of Little Birch, if you are here with young children who might like to collect eggs in the morning, then please let me know and I'd be delighted to show them. When requesting to book, and you plan to bring your family dog, please let us know the breed/size. Failure to do so will result in a decline to book your stay - this is only because the cottage rooms cannot accommodate 2 large breeds! We do not charge extra for cleaning or bringing your dogs on holiday. Thank you. Guest access The whole of Little Birch cottage is for your use. The rear garden is enclosed and for your use too. The private driveway can hold 2 cars and is for your sole use, the driveway is covered by a Blink CCTV security camera - this can easily be turned off if you prefer not to have your cars covered - we are in a very low crime area, but peace of mind overrules and we chose to have these available. The outside light above the front door holds a 'dawn-2-dusk' bulb, this will come on & off automatically. There is also a P.I.R floodlight on the shed by the private picket gate, this comes on when activated in the dark, for instance when your dog goes out for their last business before bed - this again can be turned off if you prefer not to have it. Please take care when exiting the drive, there is a bend in the road to the left which catches people unawares. Other things to note We have a highchair with safety straps, travel cot & single bed guards for your use, please let us know at booking if you require these. A changing mat & a small step for use in the bathroom is also available. Our cottage kitchen & breakfast room has a 'Plumis' fire safety mist system installed. The sensors on the ceilings in these rooms must not be covered as they constantly scan for heat increase, and if they sense heat they will 'tell' the mist jets to activate! More can be read on this in the house manual. Please collect all your dogs do-doo's before you vacate the property, daily if possible. There are poo bags supplied within the dogs welcome basket. The metal dustbins outside can be used for the disposal of these. If you are staying for an occasion, birthday/anniversary etc, please let us know when booking. Should you require any other information about Little Birch Cottage before you decide to book, please feel free to message me. *** From May 8th 2026 the cottage will be bookable through an agency, please research and book via that link - many thanks *** Thank you.